View from the cop: Crime & punishment
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AJC.com > Metro > View from the cop > Archives > 2008 > February
February 2008
Text messages you should make your kids get
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When something like the Virginia Tech shooting occurs, the aftermath involves a detailed investigation of all the elements leading up to the incident. Hopefully, changes will take place to shore up what went wrong.
For instance, after the Colombine shootings, many police tactical strategies changed in “active-shooter” scenarios. If you remember, the tactical team waited outside the building before going in. Most teams now train for immediate entry to find the shooter or shooters as soon as possible. Going back to Virginia Tech, one of the major problems involved the notification process, to the students, to lock down or evacuate. They believed the first incident was final but soon learned the shooter was on the move again and as a result, more students were killed.
Since that time, many universities have offered a text-notification system, available to all students, to allow them access to information, warning them of a critical event. You would think, given that most teens live on text-messaging and cell phone communication, would find this a natural fit but it seems the sign ups for these services are surprisingly slow. I believe that people, maybe younger people specifically, simply don’t realize this stuff could happen. It can. It does.
How hard would it be to sign up for a text warning? I don’t even know how it works but if you have kids living in dorms in whatever college they’re in, I would insure that if this service is offered, you sign them up. Don’t ask them to sign up. Require it. It’s not hard. Here’s what you say:
“I want you to be signed up for the campus early warning system by tomorrow when you come back home with that U-Haul full of your laundry.”
“Nothing’s going to happen.”
“Do it or Monday I cut off the phone!”
“You got it!”
If this service isn’t offered because maybe the school doesn’t want to project the image that something could happen, then make some noise and get things changed.
More than ever before, people seem to be right on the edge. Road rage, domestic violence, hell, even fights on aisle 3 over the store being out of number 4 cone coffee filters have occurred.
There are tons of folks here who have kids in college. I can tell by your tattered clothing and dazed looks. Give yourself some peace of mind. Look into this and if it’s offered, make sure those kids get signed up. Don’t put it off and don’t leave it up to them—at least not without a deadline. Be firm, remember, you have the advantage. Those are your washing machines and dryers. They need you.
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Advice for a mega-million lottery winner
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Finally—someone wins the lottery and did the right thing. Robert Harris, the winner, called his boss and quit his job! He’s selling the mobile home and—maybe buying a better mobile home. Who knows?
Winning $270 million is something that would make your day, wouldn’t it? What do you do right after you find out you won? Do you go to lunch or order out? I can’t imagine how many times this guy must be asking himself if this is real. I say “Good for him!” This is the guy you want to win—other than you, of course. You don’t want the guy who’s already rich to win. Somehow that’s bad.
How much of that money does he take home? Let’s see….$164 million before taxes I think it was. Take even half of that and he’s still styling at $82 million in the bank. I hope he doesn’t let that money ruin him. I’ve heard the horror stories about people who come into fast money and three years later they’re bankrupt.
Tonya, Robert’s wife, needs to keep an eye out on things after all this settles in. Learn from the past, Tonya. Don’t let Robert get involved with the following bad investments: • Car dealer selling exclusively to strippers • Strip club owned by strippers • Any non-profit organization called “Friends of Strippers • Restaurants run by strippers • Mortgage company dealing in creative loan options for strippers
It’s always the men who screw up good money things isn’t it? It’s true. Men screw up marriages, businesses, politics, and just about everything they’ve worked hard for, by not managing their raging libidos. We are a funny gender aren’t we?
7, 12, 13, 19, 22, plus the Mega Ball number 10 were the big numbers. They were based on his grandchildren’s birthdays. Robert and Tonya planned to have family members over Saturday night to celebrate. Oh, you can believe you’ll have family “dropping in” quite regularly in fact. You’ll see people who you have no clue who they are.
Tonya, do this: hire a bouncer up front and give him a list and pictures of who you like. Kick out the rest. They’re going to swarm your house like Girl Scouts on the first “Cookie Day.” Also, stay right up front near the bouncers so Roberts doesn’t accidentally let in a bunch of strippers.
When asked then how his life would change, Harris said: I used to live in a trailer. And I used to be an iron worker.” He said he couldn’t explain how he used his six grandchildren’s birthdays to pick the winning combination. “I’m too happy and confused right now to think too clear. Do you guys know any strippers?”
Well, all I have to say is “Good for you Robert and Tonya.” Enjoy the money but don’t let it change you too much. Remember the mistakes of past winners.
We don’t want to drive past Portal, GA and see “Clyde’s and Robert’s Market—Strippers welcomed.
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More tales from training class
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Most of you know that training classes can be brutal but Public Information Officer training has been a lot more interesting that I assumed. If anyone figures this training to be fluff or a waste of time, look at the press conferences held after Columbine and Virginia Tech, good examples of what not to do. Stress training was Wednesday meaning hostile reporters and hopelessly ridiculous follow up questions. Good stuff.
In Emmitsburg, Md., Wednesday, it started snowing about 11 a.m. putting about three inches on the ground which caused me to run down the hallways screaming for the schools to close and everyone to stay off the roads after they empty the stores of milk and bread. Most of my classmates just looked at me like I had three heads.
During lunch I watched the local news and found that none of the reporters were rushing to show what snow looked like and nobody closed the schools.
The attendees in this class are from all over the country. The only ones who freaked out were me and the guys from Florida. We went outside and took pictures and then rented a U-Haul and bought the Food Giant out of milk and bread just out of habit.
The folks from Alaska were mildly amused at my panic, calling it a warm February where they’re from. They were so smug. I got revenge in the form of my intent to send them our state flower, Kudzu. “Just plant it in the house right before you go out of town. It hardly grows.” By the time they get back it will look like something out of “Jumanji.” Make fun of us will they? I bet they can’t even spell Lynyrd Skynyrd, those mooseheads.
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What I’m learning at FEMA center
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Training is a nice way to break up the everyday stress of my police job. You might think that involves life and death situations. It does. Try running out of toner at 11 a.m.
I’m tucked into the tiny town of Emmitsburg, Md., at the FEMA training center. I’m refining my lackluster skills by attending the advanced Public Information Officer courses offered through the agency.
Emmitsburg is located north of Fredrick, Md., and just south of the Gettysburg Battlefield. It’s also near Camp David. For those of you who don’t know, Camp David is where the President hangs out when he wants to give the perception he’s on a “working vacation.” It’s not a drop-in camp either which is why Emmitsburg’s town drunks stay close.
I chose to drive here for two reasons: First, I wanted to spend a couple of days on the road seeing the towns and pastures—from a fairly close distance from the freeway. Secondly, I didn’t like the sound of being stuck anywhere for a week without a car.
On the way up I met the Reverend and Mrs. Garner of Columbia S.C. They were in Greenville, walking the streets and handing out anti-abortion brochures. The reverend talked about his ministry located wherever his is at the time. They were walking along the roadway mostly taking grief from the young kids asking where the clinic was. It was tacky but the reverend said he had heard it all before and didn’t bat and eye.
I spent the night in Richmond and that evening spoke to some of the locals at the Denny’s about the Richmond Braves moving to Gwinnett County. Most didn’t know they were moving and some of them said they weren’t that interested in hockey that much anyway. Now I know why they had problems keeping the team there.
Being a veteran officer, I quickly located the popular pub in downtown Emmitsburg. The Ott House is located at the corner—the first one you come to. Across is Stevro’s Pizza where no matter what kind of pizza you order, you get extra cheese. Lots of it. Did you know that when you eat lots of cheese you get constipated?
In class we’re studying communications. This means we’re doing all sorts of role-playing exercises for the camera and personal interviews.
Today’s instructor talked about body language. I learned how to shake hands. Did you know that professionally, you should shake the hand twice and then release? Here’s what else I learned:
If someone shakes your hand and covers the top of your hand with his or hers, it’s a sign of dominance and they are most likely insecure.
When they shake your hand and place their other hand under yours, it’s a sign of support.
When they shake your hand and then kiss it and hold it to their forehead, it’s a sign they’ve got you mixed up with Queen Elizabeth.
I never knew that.
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Revisiting old scams
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ah yes, the age of technology is great. We can sit on our duffs and cruise the world and order just about anything. Let’s say you wake up at 8:10 a.m. and decide you’re interested in Anthropology. By 8:15 you’ll have enough information to carry on cocktail discussions that evening with the boss’s new trophy wife about GG-rubbing. (I thought it was the author of the Harry Potter books.
We all know there are those who love this same technology for slightly different reasons. We also know there’s a sucker born every minute. The art of scamming used to take some acting skill for that inevitable face-to-face meeting with the victim. Now scammers can be anyone they want. I’m actually very impressed with some of the approaches, some cheesier than others, but regardless of how phony they sound to you, someone else out there sees it as an opportunity. In this age of super-technological snake-oil selling, don’t forget two important things:
- If it’s too good to be true, it usually is and,
- You rarely get something for nothing.
Some scams:
The Can’t Miss Car Deal
The Council of Better Business Bureaus received more than 35,000 complaints about car sales in 2006. Don’t be dazzled so much with a good deal that you don’t check the car out. “Off-lot” deals can easily be cars that had previous damage, flood damage, odometer rollbacks. Watch out for overpriced extended warranty packages.
A good rule is to have your own mechanic check the car and don’t go into a car dealer without first checking the prices out on the cars you’re interested in first. Buy a vehicle history report but don’t consider that the bible on the car. It’s best to arrange your own financing at a credit union or bank before you go car shopping. Don’t agree to undercoating and other unneeded add-ons when you’re negotiating.
Lotto Winners
You get an unsolicited phone call telling you you’ve won a prize or a foreign lottery.
The Hook- To collect the money, you must wire or overnight fees to cover insurance, taxes and shipping and handling.
New Twist- Scammers have learned to use a new tool known as “spoofing.” They disguise their real phone numbers on your caller ID with legitimate federal agency numbers in Washington D.C. and claim to be with Federal Trade Commission or the very official sounding “National Consumer Protection Agency.”
The FTC received more than 45,000 complaints about this type of scam in 2006. This ranks number three in it’s annual top fraud complaint list. Sweepstakes victims lose an average of $2,700 and lottery scam victims lose an average of $3,200.
What can I do? Real sweepstakes DO NOT require up-front payments. You can put your number on the national “Do Not Call Registry” at www.donotcall.gov or 888-382-1222.
(Let me just say that I’ve won the Spanish Lottery three times now and someone over there owes me 32 million dollars.)
Bank Account Problems
The pitch is easy. You get a call or and e-mail notifying you that there is a problem with your bank account that can be easily rectified if you give your account number, online password and / or Social Security Number to a bogus website. These websites are complete with phony logos of legitimate banks.
These were floating around for a couple of years. Washington Mutual and Suntrust Bank logos were being used for this “phishing’ scam. Always verify this with your bank before any response. Asking for sensitive numbers like account, SSN and online passwords is not a practice of legitimate banks when it’s unsolicited.
Great Stock Deal
Someone calls you about a great stock tip. It sounds like they were calling a friend but they have apparently called the wrong number. Being the alert financial wizard you are, you decide to cash in on your good fortune. This is called a “Pump and Dump” scam where they sell you high on some thinly traded microcap stock before the bottom drops out. The latest variation has these tips showing up as text messages on cell phones.
The FBI estimates these “Pump and Dump” scams cost victims about $6 billion a year.
Roof Repair
The victim is approached by a contractor and arranges the repair of his or her roof—sometimes after heavy thunderstorms and hail. The victim is convinced that although they can’t see the damage, it’s there none the less. The contractor takes a large up-front payment and then either absconds or delays any further work until such time he fades out. In 2006 there were more than 85,000 complaints with 40% either not settled or not pursued.
➢ Get estimates from at least three contractors. DON’T hire someone who comes to your home unsolicited, uses high-pressure ales tactics, or promises a price too good to be true.
➢ Use LICENSED contractors.
➢ Ask for references, proof of liability, worker’s compensation, and property-damage insurance.
➢ Put the deal in WRITING and specify the work to be done by the contractor and subs. ➢ Check your county or city for needed permits.
➢ Don’t pay large amounts in advance and don’t pay the balance before the work is completed. (Completed means completed to YOUR satisfaction.)
➢ Pay by credit card if possible, or check but NOT cash. Think twice before arranging financing with the contractor.
Be skeptical and ask a lot of questions when you and your money are on the line. In the words of my Uncle Dewey: “Never let a salesman think you aren’t crazy. Somehow it seems to keep things in order.” Uncle Dewey never had a problem convincing anyone of that.
Don’t take any wooden nickels.
Pay attention to this mindless humor
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Steve Martin once said “Comedy may be big business but it isn’t pretty.”
That’s true—especially if it’s not funny. Funny is in the eyes (and ears) of the beholder. There are some universal funny-isms such as small kids hitting dad in the crotch with a wiffle-ball bat or drunk guys with mullets running from the cops. (As you may know, in my experience, they tend to run slightly to the left meaning they’ll be back sooner or later.)
There are few funny people that I like to read—“funny” being the key word. I guess my favorite mindless reading comes from Dave Barry. He hits the hard issues like why is there a giant eyeball on the dollar bill? (There are only a few of us who really want to know that.)
I occasionally read Lewis Grizzard’s column. I enjoyed his views on the ridiculous.
Another humorist that I enjoy reading and now listening to is Red Neckerson. If you are one of the two or so dozen people who are actually from Atlanta, you’ll remember Red was a daily contributor on the Gary McKee morning radio show. He started in Atlanta with WQXI as program director. Red’s opinion, on just about anything, was never wishy-washy. He was never on the fence no matter how confused he might have been at the time.
Red, among other things, is a great one of those, who I like to call, “perspective writers.” Somewhere along the line, he gives his perspective. Sometimes his “perspective” could be called bitching. It’s not what you bitch about— it’s how you finesse it. He is a regular columnist for the Hudspeth Report, a local paper covering bars, restaurants and who went to them, what they did, who threw up afterwards.
(What a great job. You go out to the bars and you write about it. How would it go: “Last night I covered the opening of the Sacred Goose Bar and Grille in downtown Ball Ground. All of the city’s social upper crust were on hand, dancing to the music of Skeet Jacobs and his Magical Dulcimer.
The “Goose” although elegant, is affordable. Of course, prices will go up with time, but they still classify as “affordable,” especially since an ample mixed “mystery” salad or soup (spoons extra) is included with the entrees for both lunch and dinner. (Dinner comes with a complimentary raffle ticket for a NASCAR die-cast race car on Saturdays only.) The after-dinner entertainment included “Nick Skinner and the Bombay Beatniks” belting out Slim Whitman’s greatest hits until 11 p.m. when Nick, according to the court order, had to be home.”)
The Hudspeth Report had a section of bars and restaurants opening and those that were closing. In between there were a lot of photos of fine looking girls, talking, smiling, and holding drinks as they posed. Beside them were the guys who paid for the drinks. In the photo, the guys aren’t smiling as much as the girls. I think it’s because it was getting late and they had just realized they blew $150 for what was likely to be a handshake at the end of the date.
My favorite part of the report was reading Red Neckerson’s column. Being a fan of mindless humor, I enjoy his complete observations of what you may think are subjects that have already been completely discussed. Regardless of what you think you may know about something, Red’s perspective will cover uncharted territory.
I‘ve known Red for a few years now. His grandson played baseball for me for a number of years. I know his wife “Nectarine” and one of his “Yard Apes.” Red is a quiet guy. At first he sort of keeps to himself but when approached, he normally puts the gun down, and engages in whatever topic comes up. Unfortunately, we’re always at a baseball game so as coach I don’t have too much time to chat. I’m needed on the field to conduct coach’s duties such as spitting.
Aside from his columns, Red could be heard on Capt’n Herb Emory’s Nascar Racing Show on AM 750 WSB. If you’re a NASCAR fan, check out Red’s CD entitled: “Red Neckerson—Stock Car Comedy.” Check them out at www.redneckerson.com.
Questions of the week
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Lt. Steve:
I was driving up 400 and a cop stopped me for speeding. There was traffic to my right so I pulled over to the left against the median wall. The officer was agitated with me and I didn’t like his attitude. I couldn’t pull over to the right because of the traffic. What should I have done? Was I dumb to do that?
Dear Dummy:
Having been there myself, I’m guessing the officer was a bit on the agitated side knowing that he was about to be run over. The only thing that would fit in that lane is a clown car so I’m sure half of yours and the cop’s car, which of course is behind yours and will be the first one hit, was sticking out there to be hit by one of our fine drivers who just may be on his or her cell phone, texting something insignificant that could have waited.
Here is what you do, stick you hand out of your driver’s window and wave to acknowledge that you see the blue lights. Make sure you wave with all of your fingers. Turn on your right turn signal and then cautiously ease over to the right, lane to lane, taking as much time and distance as you need to do it safely. As long as you’re not changing lanes at 80 MPH the officer won’t be alarmed.
Lt. Steve:
What kind of drunk-tests do they give when you get pulled over?
Dear Overimbiber:
Field sobriety tests, commonly referred to by officers as “FSTs”, are simply a series of exercises designed in theory to test balance, coordination and divided attention (the ability to do two things at once). There are over a dozen such tests which have been used to varying degrees, the more common among them being one-leg-stand, walk-and-turn, nystagmus (following an object like a pen or finger from side-to-side with your eyes), the Rhomberg test (also called “modified position of attention”), hand-pat, finger-to-nose, fingers-to-thumb and alphabet recitation.
If the driver has a mullet, additional tests may include reciting the words to “Free Bird.” Also taken into consideration is the physical appearance of the driver. For instance, if the driver is lying face down on the horn, or urinating out the driver’s window, this too would indicate he may be a “less-safe” driver.
Crime & Punishment
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Some incidents reported recently to Sandy Springs police:
The business of crime A man came into the Goodwill Store on Johnson Ferry Road shortly after 9 p.m. and pulled a gun on an employee and then forced her to hand over cash. The suspect iface. He was also wearing a red and purple long-hair wig, which I guess he wore so he’d blend in. Although the doors were locked, the suspect was able to force himself in.
If you are working in a retail business, you might want to think about making 2 to 3 daily deposits, depending on your cash flow, to avoid having a lot of cash on hand. Also, go and look at your physical hardware locking those doors. Think about an audible alarm you can activate while you’re closed but still counting money and closing up and most vulnerable. You should be able to activate it from the office.
Here’s the scenario: You have the video and you see the man in the red and purple wig forcing his way in the door so you activate the audible alarm, audible in this case meaning very loud outside the building. At the same time you hit the 911 on speed dial and maybe release the door opener to the cage holding back the Rotweillers.
Wouldn’t that be nice and you’d have it on video for years of enjoyment. Video is always good and we make a lot of arrests on video evidence to support the other evidence.
It was on the ‘to-do’ list The Subway Store in the 6600 block of Roswell Road was robbed around 9:30 p.m. by two men. During the robbery, the employee activated the panic button. The men jumped the counter and took an undetermined amount of money, and then ran out. During the investigation, the officers found that the panic button did not work nor did the video system. How can businesses let this kind of stuff go unattended? It’s ridiculous.
If the police call…Three men forced an apartment door open in the 300 block of North River Parkway and then tried to rob the residents The resident had previously dialed “911” and when the suspects heard the phone ring, they checked the caller ID that read “Police.” They fled the apartment without taking anything. The resident said his mother cooks food in her apartment and then sells it to other apartment residents. The suspects originally said they wanted to buy food when they knocked on the victim’s door before forcing their way in. No one was hurt.
Another reason to quit smoking A man was robbed after pulling out over $1,000 from an ATM machine in order to pay bills. After he got the money, he drove from one convenience store to another and bought a cigar. As he walked to his car he was approached and then robbed by two men. They approached the victim from the dumpster and were never in the second convenience store.
This guy was pegged when he pulled that money from the ATM inside the first convenient store. If you think there aren’t people who watch these locations, then here’s your proof. Even when inside, before using the ATM, look around. If there are people milling around, wait.
Forgery and Fraud
A man reported that he lost his wallet and checks in a taxi. Later, his checks were written at a liquor store for $92, a convenient store for one dollar, and the Love Shack for $52. I know what you’re thinking: “What could cost one dollar at a convenience store? Hint: something that would tie into the $52 item at Love Shack?
Love & Money A woman reported her ex-boyfriend took her check card and used it. She said that he had her PIN number. Here is a good question to think about as we near Valentine’s Day: At what point of the relationship do you give your PIN number to your boyfriend or girlfriend? Answer: You don’t have the fiancé commitment yet so who knows what the intention is?
I would give a fake PIN to see how long before the break up. This guy put over $1,000 on her card.
Surviving Valentine’s: A message to men
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Men of the world, hear me now. Log it in your Outlook, your Blackberry, sticky notes, and perhaps even carve into your left wrist. In just a few short days, we will come upon February 14th, otherwise known as the “V” word. If ever there was a reason for men to unite, this is the mother of all reasons because it is here, on this day, that we collectively shoot ourselves in the foot, year after year. The horror stories are out there.
I’m a survivor. I made a mistake and my story could affect you, so listen up. Yellow roses are called “Friendship” roses. You would think someone in the business of selling flowers would pick up on that when I distinctly said: “I’d like to get a dozen roses for my anniversary—oh hey! Those yellow ones look pretty.”
Okay, I think the word “Wife” would probably be the hint that I was flower-challenged in this area. As a professional flower person, wouldn’t you think he would pick up on that and say to me: “Sir, you’re strolling down a thorny road if you give your wife yellow roses instead of, maybe—red roses? Instead, he said not one word and off I went to present her with beautiful yellow friendship roses on our anniversary—at work.
I trusted this man—put my fate in his hands and what happened: For the next three months, my wife continuously praised my “friendship” to her, all the while making sure that our relationship didn’t exceed “friendly” boundaries if you catch my drift.
On this Valentine’s Day, learn some fundamentals.
Your financial status has no bearing on whether or not you buy flowers for your wife or girlfriend. If you have to make the choice between food and flowers, I suggest you buy the flowers. If you don’t eat, the worst that can happen is you’ll die. If you shun your little lady, your fate will be much worse.
Another no-no: waiting until the last minute to buy your Valentine’s Day card. Would you like to see something truly pitiful? Go to the nearest drugstore, around 6 p.m. on Valentine’s Day, and look at the men standing in front of a sparse collection of cheesy Valentine’s Day cards. Look at their faces. They are the doomed. Most will not survive. Learn from them.
Here is what’s left to pick from:
“Have a Beary Nice Valentine’s Day. (Picture of bear.)
“You Sweeten My Day.” (Picture of ant.)
“I’m Bananas over You!” (Picture of chimp.)
“”Looking back over the year that we’ve been together, I can’t help but wonder: What the hell was I thinking?” (Picture of Carmen Electra and Dennis Rodman.)
Read this and then get your keys, get in your car, and go to the store and spend some time and money on a good card and order those flowers early and for God’s sake, don’t get the yellow roses.
Crime & Punishment
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Some incidents reported recently to Sandy Springs police:
Open House; Open Season for Thief
A man reported that a number of expensive jewelry pieces were stolen from his jewelry box. The man’s residence is for sale and he had a number of people who have been shown the house. There was no forced entry indicating someone may have taken it during showings.
This has happened many times in the past. There are people who will attend your open house or will make an appointment with your realtor to see it and the only intention they have is to see what you have in order to steal it. Make sure that your jewelry is kept out of site and in a place that requires you to look for it when you are expecting this type of activity where strangers are coming in and walking through the home looking around. Also, those things that are in your bedroom dresser drawers like watches, guns, things that you sort of just keep handy, need to be relocated too.
This person reported a loss of over $12,000.
Burglary
Officers got a prowler, upgraded to a burglary-in-progress call at an apartment. When they got there, they did not find a suspect outside so they tried to make entry into the apartment. They could not get the door open. A woman then opened the door and the officer found a prop bar across the inside of the door preventing the door from being forced open. The woman spoke to the officers who noted the smell of alcohol and marijuana. Someone had scratched a note into the door “I whant my momey” roughly translated to “I want my money” or “I want my mommy.” (We’re going with the first one.)
The woman said that she did not owe money to anyone but she did talk about whom she bought her pot from; a man in Cobb County. She was also wanted in Florida for a probation violation on a previous Cocaine charge. (They didn’t want to extradite.) Sooooo…we’re thinking she owes some reefer money and the collector was the burglary-in-progress call. It’s too bad nobody went to jail here. The only good thing is that prop bar may be a good burglary tool for apartment dwellers since most apartment burglaries are the door-kicker variety.
Theft
A man walked into Trader Joe’s on Roswell Road and took a bottle of syrup and then walked up front and tried to return it for a refund. They refused so the man walked outside and got into a white Ford Explorer whose tag number we now have, and drove out. The tag is listed to a man in Roswell. He was described as 5-8, 150 lbs, with curly salt and pepper hair, and not too bright.
About $1500 in copper was stolen overnight from a construction area.
A woman said that someone took her wallet from her purse while she was shopping at the Kroger Store in the 8300 block of Roswell Road. (Are you sick of this scenario yet?)
The victim put seven checks in his mailbox to be mailed out. Someone took all of them before the mail person got there. He said that he has received notification of fraud as a result. If nothing else, remember this: Checks and other sensitive information going out—use a post office box and not your mailbox.
Someone stole the church sign from the parking lot of the Sandy Springs Christian Church.
A woman reported that sometime between 2 and 3 a.m. someone took her purse from her table at the Taboo Night Club. They later used the credit card to buy movie tickets from Ticketmaster for an April 18, 2008 movie at the Fox.
Arrests
Aleyn Keivin Ambrozio-Martinez, age 23, was arrested at the Target Store on Johnson Ferry Road after he put a bottle of Acqua Di Gio Cologne, valued at thirty-nine bucks, in his jacket and then left. ACQUA DI GIO cologne by GIORGIO ARMANI was introduced in 1996. This fine cologne contains; lavender, juniper, cumin and is accented with ylang-ylang, sandalwood and amber, making ACQUA DI GIO cologne perfect for casual use such as having your stupid fanny carted off to jail.
Antonieo Evans, 24, was arrested and charged with Forgery, False Name, and Obstruction, after he went to the check cashing store and tried to cash a check for $3,258 from a company in Little Rock, Ark. After it looked like this wasn’t going to work out for him, Antonio left. An officer, who had the description of the suspect, spotted him and after a short foot race, secured him. He was arrested and then taken to Fulton County Jail. One of the mistakes forgers make is they try to get too much money.
Ask the detective
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Lt. Steve: Why are some of the arrested prisoners taken to Doraville Jail and other to Fulton County Jail?
Felony arrests go to Fulton County Jail and misdemeanor arrests go to Doraville Jail. We have two jail contracts. Doraville is our holding facility where customers can relax before making bail. We also have a contract with Erwin County, near Perry, Georgia, for extended-stay customers.
Lt. Steve: What is the point spread on the Patriots-Giants Super Bowl?
13 ½ I think.
Lt. Steve: How do you check your credit?
There are three major credit-reporting agencies: Trans Union, Equifax, and Experian. As a Georgia resident, you can obtain a free one at least once annually. Take advantage of it. There’s a lot of information on it so just go to your search engine and start looking around or check their websites.
Lt. Steve: What is nuclear fusion? In physics and nuclear chemistry, nuclear fusion is the process by which multiple atomic particles join together to form a heavier nucleus. It is accompanied by the release or absorption of energy. Iron and nickel nuclei have the largest binding energies per nucleon of all nuclei, sort of like the New York Yankee’s payroll, and therefore are the most stable. The fusion of two nuclei lighter than iron or nickel generally releases energy while the fusion of nuclei heavier than iron or nickel absorbs energy; vice-versa for the reverse process, nuclear fission, or NF, pronounced (nuff.)
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